Automatic sliding door

ABSTRACT

An automatic sliding door with a safety device for preventing the closure of the door when an object is encountered includes a sliding door mounted for movement along an upper track toward and away from a door jamb. A pressure sensitive nose member is mounted along leading edge of the door and causes activation of a safety switch for controlling the door to open when an object is encountered by the nose member during closing movement. The safety switch is mounted in a housing which supports an elongated actuator extending parallel of the door track and facing an upper portion of the sliding door. The actuator is mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from the door about an axis parallel of the track and engages the safety switch to maintain normal operation until a contact member on the door is retracted from the actuator. The contact member is normally engaged in sliding contact with the elongated actuator as the door opens and closes. The pressure sensitive nose member on the leading edge of the door is adapted to withdraw the contact member away from the actuator upon engagement of the nose member with an obstruction during a closing movement and this activates the control system to move the door to the open position.

United States Patent 1 Hubbard et al.

[4 1 Sept. 9, 1975 AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR [75] Inventors: S. Eugene Hubbard, Niles; Richard A. Meisterheim, Dowagiac, both of Mich.

[731 Assignee: Kawneer Company, lnc., Niles,

Mich.

[22] Filed: Oct. 3, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 511,680

Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mason. Kolehmainen, Rathburn & Wyss [57] ABSTRACT An automatic sliding door with a safety device for preventing the closure of the door when an object is encountered includes a sliding door mounted for movement along an upper track toward and away from a door jarnb. A pressure sensitive nose member is mounted along leading edge of the door and causes activation of a safety switch for controlling the door to open when an object is encountered by the nose member during closing movement. The safety switch is mounted in a housing which supports an elongated actuator extending parallel of the door track and facing an upper portion of the sliding door. The actuator is mounted for pivotal movement toward and away from the door about an axis parallel of the track and engages the safety switch to maintain normal operation until a contact member on the door is retracted from the actuator. The contact member is normally engaged in sliding contact with the elongated actuator as the door opens and closes. The pressure sensitive nose member on the leading edge of the door is adapted to withdraw the contact member away from the actuator upon engagement of the nose member with an obstruction during a closing movement and this activates the control system to move the door to the open position.

8 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR The present invention relates to automatic sliding doors and more particularly to electrically controlled sliding doors having an improved safety system for initiating automatic opening of the door upon the engagement of an obstruction in the closing path of the door.

Modern sliding glass doors and other types of sliding panel doors having relatively narrow stiles and rails for supporting the glass or panels thereof have little if any room for enclosing complex electrical equipment within the door itself and accordingly great difficulty has been encountered in providing safety systems for these types of doors. Unlike elevator doors, which are generally opaque and have most of the electrical mechanism mounted within the door itself, narrow-stile panelled doors do not provide sufficient room for weathertight enclosure of the necessary electrical control components for an adequate safety system. Moreover, in presently available sliding doors of the character described, the threshold strip and the outer edges of the door activating control mats are insensitive and do not function to open the door in the event of encountering obstruction during closing action.

The present invention is designed to provide an automatic sliding door with a safety system operable to open the door when an obstruction is encountered even when a person may be positioned on the threshold or an insensitive portion of the activating mat. The system operates whenever a pressure sensitive nose carried on the leading edge of the sliding door engages an obstruction and this causes the door to open and thus prevent injury by closure upon the person, limbs or materials between the door and the door jamb.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved automatic electrically controlled sliding door.

Another object is to provide a new and improved automatically controlled sliding door of the type described having a safety device for activating the door to an open position when an obstruction is encountered during closing movement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved safety system for convenient installation on existing automatic sliding door installations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety system which will function on a sliding door of the type which is designed to pivot outwardly in an emergency. Many sliding doors include a panic safety feature which permits the door to pivot outwardly for escape from an emergency condition in a building.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved automatic sliding door of the character described wherein the door may be opened in a plurality of different ways including, normal operation by a person walking on a switch mat, a safety operation anytime a pressure sensitive nose member encounters an obstruction during closing or when the sliding door is pivoted outwardly by pressure in a panic situation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved automatic sliding door incorporating a safety system in which the door mounted components are mechanical in nature and which requires no electri cal wiring or electrical components located on or within the door itself.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved automatic, electrically controlled sliding door wherein all of the safety system components are mounted in an enclosure secured to the door frame rather than the moving door.

These and other object and advantages of the present invention are accomplished in an illustrative embodiment comprising an automatic, electrically controlled sliding door mounted for movement along an upper track toward and away from a door jamb adjacent the leading edge of the door when in a closed position. The automatic door includes a safety device comprising an elongated actuator extended parallel of the door track and facing an upper portion of the sliding door. The actuator is pivotally mounted for movement toward and away from the upper portion of the door about an axis parallel of the track and safety switch means is mounted intermediate the length of the actuator for response to movement thereof toward and away from the door. The safety switch is wired in parallel with the normal door opening switches for actuating the electrically controlled operator system of the door. A contact member is mounted on the door for normal continuous sliding contact with the elongated actuator as the door opens and closes and the contact member normally maintains the actuator in a pivotal position away from the door during normal operation. A pressure sensitive nose member is mounted on the leading edge of the door and is mechanically interconnected to withdraw the contact member away from the switch actuator upon sensing the engagement of an obstruction during the closing of the door. The safety switch is also actuated by a pivotal opening of the door in a panic situation.

For better understanding of the present invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an automatic sliding door constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the elongated actuator of a safety system of the invention in another of its operative positions.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal, cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 55 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the leading edge of the door and the pressure sensitive nose member thereon in one of its operating positions.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the pressure sensitive nose member in another of its operative positions.

FIG. '7 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 77 of FIG. 4, and showing the nose member in one of its operative positions.

FIG. 8 is a transverse, vertical, cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the pressure sensitive nose member on the leading edge of the door in another of its operative positions.

FIG. 10 is a transverse, vertical, cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines I0-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, horizontal, cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the door in the fully closed position, and

FIG. 12 is an exploded, perspective view of the upper end portion of the leading edge of the sliding door and portions of the adjacent safety system in accordance with the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, therein is illustrated in a new and improved automatic sliding door employing a safety system in accordance with the features of the present invention. The sliding door is of a type generally similar to that as shown and described in the US. Pat. No. 3,619,946 and is adapted to open and close an entranceway generally indicated by the reference numeral (FIG. 1). The entranceway is framed by a pair of vertical jambs 22 and 24 extending upwardly from a horizontal threshold 26 and a panel type, sliding door 28 is adapted to move toward and away from one of the jambs (the left-hand jamb 22 as shown in FIG. I) to open and close the entrance while a fixed (or movable) door panel or side lite 30 is provided on the opposite side of the entrance to fill the opening as best shown in FIG. 1. The sliding door 28 is provided with a relatively large center panel 32 of glass or other material supported in a frame comprising a pair of relatively narrow, vertical stiles 34 and 36 interconnected at their upper and lower ends by a top rail 38 and a bottom rail 40, respectively. As best shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and II, the vertical stile 34 is of a generally U-shaped transverse cross-section and the webs thereof are interconnected to the ends of the upper and lower rails 38 and 40 by means of cap screws 42. As best shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the panel or glass 32 is held in place by means of inner and outer glass stops 44 and 46 and suitable gaskets 48 and 50 are provided between the glass stops and the panel to insure a weather-proof door.

The fixed door panel 30 or side lite includes a relatively large, center panel 52 of glass or other material supported between the right-hand entrance jamb 24 and a parallel, relatively narrow, vertical stile or post 54. A lower rail 56 is connected between the stile 54 and the jamb 24 and at the upper end, the entire entrance is framed with a box-like transom bar 60 which supports sliding door 28 for sliding closing, and opening movement toward and away from the left-hand door jamb 22. The panel 52 of the side lite 30 is glazed with suitable glass stops 44 and 46 and sealing gaskets 48 and 50 to provide a weather tight enclosure.

The relatively large transom bar 60 supports the sliding door 28 and provides an enclosure or housing for the door operator and control system (not shown) which may be of the general type shown and described in the aforementioned Crocker patent in detail, which patent is incorporated herein by reference. The door operator for moving the sliding door 28 between the open and closed positions is electrically controlled and hydraulically operated and is normally activated by a person walking on a threadle or mats (not shown) such as the mats 26 and 27 shown in the Crocker patent. Pressure on the mats actuates the door operator to open the door. In the absence of the pressure of a person or object on a mat for a specific period of time, the door operator is programmed to return the door 28 to the closed position wherein the left-hand stile 34 of the door is positioned closely adjacent the left-hand jamb 22 of the entranceway 20, as shown in FIG. 11.

As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 10, the transom bar 60 is preferably formed of an extrusion and includes a pair of lower flanges 62 and 64 having inside facing edges spaced apart to provide a continuous slot or opening 66 for accommodating a pair of hangers 68 which support the sliding door 28. Each hanger is provided with a roller 70 adjacent the upper end adapted to ride upon an integrally formed rail or track 72 on the inside flange 62 adjacent the inner edge thereof as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In accordance with the present invention, a safety system adapted for use with the sliding door 28 in cludes an elongated housing 74 preferably formed of extruded metal and having a box-like square or rectangular transverse cross-section as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 10. The housing is adapted to be attached to the inside lower flange 62 of the transom bar 60 and extends between the stile 54 of the side lite or door panel 30 and the left-hand jamb 22 of the entrance way 20 as best shown in FIG. 4. The safety housing is dimensioned to the desired length and is easily installed even in existing sliding door installations without major modifications being needed. Thus, the safety system of the present invention is useful for safety modification of sliding door installations already in existence as well as the particular type of new sliding doors shown in the drawings herein and in the previously mentioned US. Pat. No. 3,619,946.

The housing includes an upper wall adapted to be secured to the flange 62 of the transom bar 60 with a plurality of cap screws 76 or other suitable fastening means. The housing is formed with an elongated opening 78 on one side facing outwardly towards the upper portion of the sliding door 28 and below this opening, the outer wall of the housing is provided with a weather stripping member 80 adapted to seal against the inside face of the sliding door. As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 8, l0 and 12, the extruded housing is provided with a downwardly opening, elongated groove 82 on the underside of the top wall of a substantially circular crosssection. This elongated groove is adapted to provide pivotal support for an enlarged, bulbous upper edge portion 84 of an elongated switch actuator 86 which is mounted in the housing and extends substantially the entire length thereof. As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 10 the elongated switch actuator 86 includes a downwardly depending, strip like, main body portion 88 and the body is pivotable toward and away from the door 28 between a normal operating position (as shown in FIG. 2) wherein the body is in a substantially vertical position and an outwardly inclined safety position (FIG. 3) wherein the lower edge of the body bears against the lower portion of the outer side wall of the housing 74, which engagement limits the pivotal movement thereof.

The switch actuator 86 is biased outwardly toward the position of FIG. 3 by plurality of coil springs 90 spaced at intervals along the length of the housing and positioned with their axes generally transverse to the housing as best shown in FIG. 4. The inner ends of the coil springs are seated and secured in place within an elongated groove 92 formed on the inside surface of the lower portion of the inside wall of the housing 74. The switch actuator 86 also includes an outwardly extending rib 94 at right angles to the body 88 and the rib is formed with a contact strip 96 at the outer end thereof having a planar outer contact face directly opposite and facing the inside surface of the sliding door 28. The rib 94 and integral contact strip 96 provides lateral stiffness for the body 88 of the switch .actuator along its entire length. Accordingly, if the contact strip 96 is restrained by contact with the door at any point along its length, the springs 90 will be compressed and unable to pivot the actuator to the safety actuating position of FIGS. 3 and 10.

The elongated housing 74 is also provided with an inwardly formed downwardly depending rib 98 and this rib provides support for a normally open, safety switch 100 which is mounted on the rib about midway of its length by means of an L-shaped bracket, shim and screws 102 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). The safety switch includes an operator 104 normally depressed by the lower portion of the switch actuator body 88 and when the actuator is pivoted from the normal position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3, the switch operator is no longer restrained and activates the switch to change from its normally open to a contact closed position whereby the operator of the door is energized to move the door toward the open position. The switch 100 is wired in parallel with the one or more mat activated switch systems which provide normal operation of the door. During normal closing action of the door 28 when no obstructions are encountered by the leading edge, the switch actuator 86 is maintained in the normal or vertical position (FIG. 2) against the bias of the springs 90 because of engagement against a contact button 106 on the door which slidably engages the face of the contact strip 96. The contact button is formed of nylon or other plastic material having a low coefficient of friction suitable for repeated sliding engagement with the face of the contact strip 96 during normal operation of the sliding door. The contact buttom is threaded externally for position adjustment and is mounted in a threaded axial core of a rectangular slide block 108 mounted adjacent the upper leading edge corner of the sliding door 28.

The slide block 108 is best illustrated in FIGS. 8, l and 12 and the internally threaded bore which receives the contact button 106 permits adjustments to be made as wear occurs on the contact button. A set screw 110 is provided to secure the adjusted position of the contact button in the slide block. The slide block is mounted for a sliding movement transversely of the door within a rectangular cross-sectional bore 112A formed in a support block 1 12. The support block is secured in place by means of a cap screw 1 l4 and is positioned adjacent the upper end of an elongated tubular base member 116 mounted within the channel shaped stile 34 of the door.

The tubular base is secured in place to the web 34A of the door stile by a plurality of cap screws 118 and as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is seated between the opposite side flanges 34B of the door. The member 116 is of rectangular, transverse cross-section and includes a pair of opposite sides 116A spaced inwardly of the opposite side flanges 34B of the U-shaped door stile 34. The tubular support member includes a base 116B, normal to the sides 116A and the base is secured to the web 34A of the door stile by a plurality of cap screws 118. An opposite side 116C of the tubular support 116 faces outwardly towards the door jamb 22 and a suitable hole is provided in an upstanding portion of the side 116C so that the cap screw 114 can pass through to secure the support block 112 in place adjacent the upper end of the door. The outer face of the support block 1 12 is extended through a U-shaped slot 35 (FIG. 12) formed in the inside flange 34B of the door stile 34.

In order to activate the safety switch when desired by withdrawal of the contact button 106 away from the contact strip 96 of the switch actuator 86, the slide block 108 is provided with a transversely extending sloped groove or slot 108A which receives the shank of an actuator pin secured to the upper end of a pressure sensitive nose member 122. The pin 120 extends through a vertical slot 112B in the support block 112 to engage the sloping slot 108A to move the block 108 and contact button 106 toward and away from the contact strip 96. t

The nose member 122 is mounted in the leading edge of the door 28 and is supported on the tubular support 116 and extends substantially the entire length of the leading edge. The nose member is of a generally U- shaped transverse cross-section including a pair of opposite side flanges 122A and an integral web 1228. As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the flanges 122A project into the space between the flanges 34B of the door stile 34 and the opposite facing sides 116A of the tubular support 116 which is fixedly secured to the web 34A of the door stile. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the actuator pin 120 is attached to an upwardly extending portion of the web 122B of the pressure sensitive nose by means of a cap screw 124.

The nose is supported on the leading edge of the sliding door 28 for limited vertical and horizontal translational movement relative to the door stile 34, so that if an object is encountered by the nose during closure of the door, the member is elevated and moved inwardly in the direction of the arrow A" of FIG. 9. For this purpose a plurality of cross pins 126 are provided on the tubular support 116 to extend outwardly through circular openings 117 provided in the opposite side walls 116A as best shown in FIG. 12. These cross pins are received in inwardly and upwardly sloping slots 128 formed at appropriate intervals in the side flanges 122A of the nose member 122. If an object or person is present above the threshold 26 as the sliding door 28 moves toward the closed position and the nose member 122 encounters the obstruction, the nose is lifted upwardly and inwardly until the obstruction is cleared. Upon clearance, the nose member returns to its normal operating position of FIG. 7 under the influence of gravity. The engagement of the cross pins 126 with the inclined slots 128 provide for vertical and horizontal relative movement between the pressure-sensitive nose member and the door stile 34. When lifting movement occurs, the actuator pin 120 is elevated from the position of FIG. 8 to the position of FIG. 10 and this causes the slide block 108 and contact button 106 carried thereby to be retracted outwardly away from engagement with the contact strip 96 of the safety actuator 86. As previously indicated, when this action occurs, the safety switch 100 is actuated to the closed position and the operator of the sliding door is energized to drive the door towards the open position. After an obstruction is cleared the nose member moves downwardly and outwardly relative to the door stile to a normal operative position as shown in F IG. 7, and the contact button 106 again bears against the strip 96 to deactivate the safety switch 100.

In order to prevent the sliding door 28 from automatically returning to the open position during normal operation each time the nose member engages the lefthand door jamb 22 during normal closing action, the contact strip 96 of the switch actuator provided with a short cam 130 secured in position adjacent the door jamb by a set screw 132. During normal closure action as the nose member 122 on the leading edge of the door 28 engages or approaches the door jamb 22 and the contact button 106 is retracted as previously described, the switch actuator 86 will not be actuated because the cam [30 engages the inside flange 34B of the door stile 34 (as shown in FIG. 1 l) and this engagement prevents the pivotal movement of the switch actuator 86 to the position of FIGS. 3 and even though the contact button 106 may be fully retracted.

The pressure-sensitive nose member I22 is provided with a pair of curved outer flange portions 122C on the leading edge which define a continuous slot therebetween for supporting a weather strip 134 for engagement with the door jamb 22 when the door is closed. The weather strip 134 is secured in position by cap screws 136 and positioning blocks 138 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 and can be replaced from time to time as wear or damage occurs.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the safety system of the sliding door does not require any electrical wiring on the door itself and the system can be readily installed on most existing sliding doors without requiring extensive modification. Moreover, the safety system permits the doors to operate in a normal fashion without interference and provides an added safety feature. The system also provides for opening of the door in a panic situation should the door be pivoted outwardly by excessive pressure from the inside of the building.

Although the present invention has been described by reference to a single embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that numerous other modifications and embodiments will be devised by those skilled in the art which will fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A safety device for an automatic electrically controlled sliding door mounted for movement along an upper track toward and away from a door jamb adjacent a leading edge of said door in a closed position, said safety device comprising an elongated actuator extended parallel of said track and facing an upper portion of said sliding door, said actuator pivotally mounted for movement toward and away from said upper portion of said door about an axis parallel of said track, safety switch means intermediate the length of said actuator responsive to movement thereof toward and away from said door for actuating the electrical control of said door to open the same, a contact member on said door positioned for sliding contact with said elongated actuator as said door opens and closes for normally maintaining said actuator in a pivotal position away from said door and pressure sensitive means carried adjacent said leading edge of said door interconnected to withdraw said contact member away from said actuator upon engagement of said pressure sensitive means with an obstruction during closing of said door.

2. The safety device of claim 1 including an elongated housing for supporting and enclosing said actuator and said safety switch means, said housing having an elongated opening along one side facing said door for receiving said contact member in sliding contact with said actuator mounted in said housing.

3. The safety device of claim 2 wherein said housing and actuator are pivotally interconnected.

4. The safety device of claim 3 wherein said housing is formed with a longitudinal groove on an inside surface of substantially circular transverse cross-section, said actuator having an elongated enlarged edge portion of substantially circular transverse cross-section and received in said groove to permit pivotal movement of said actuator toward and away from said opening in said housing side.

5. The safety device of claim 3 wherein said housing and actuator are pivotally interconnected substantially the entire length thereof.

6. The safety device of claim 5 wherein said pivotal interconnection between said housing and actuator comprises a ball and socket profile in transverse crosssection.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein groove is formed on a top wall of said housing and opens facing downwardly, said enlarged edge of said actuator being formed along an upper edge thereof, said actuator further including a body portion depending downwardly of said upper edge pivotal toward and away from said opening in said housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said actuator includes an elongated rail portion extending outwardly of said body portion toward said opening of said housing, said rail portion having an outer face for sliding contact with said contact member as said door is opened and closed. 

1. A safety device for an automatic electrically controlled sliding door mounted for movement along an upper track toward and away from a door jamb adjacent a leading edge of said door in a closed position, said safety device comprising an elongated actuator extended parallel of said track and facing an upper portion of said sliding door, said actuator pivotally mounted for movement toward and away from said upper portion of said door about an axis parallel of said track, safety switch means intermediate the length of said actuator responsive to movement thereof toward and away from said door for actuating the electrical control of said door to open the same, a contact member on said door positioned for sliding contact with said elongated actuator as said door opens and closes for normally maintaining said actuator in a pivotal position away from said door and pressure sensitive means carried adjacent said leading edge of said door interconnected to withdraw said contact member away from said actuator upon engagement of said pressure sensitive means with an obstruction during closing of said door.
 2. The safety device of claim 1 including an elongated housing for supporting and enclosing said actuator and said safety switch means, said housing having an elongated opening along one side facing said door for receiving said contact member in sliding contact with said actuator mounted in said housing.
 3. The safety device of claim 2 wherein said housing and actuator are pivotally interconnected.
 4. The safety device of claim 3 wherein said housing is formed with a longitudinal groove on an inside surface of substantially circular transverse cross-section, said actuator having an elongated enlarged edge portion of substantially circular transverse cross-section and received in said groove to permit pivotal movement of said actuator toward and away from said opening in said housing side.
 5. The safety device of claim 3 wherein said housing and actuator are pivotally interconnected substantially the entire length thereof.
 6. The safety device of claim 5 wherein said pivotal interconnection between said housing and actuator comprises a ball and socket profile in transverse cross-section.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein groove is formed on a top wall of said housing and opens facing downwardly, said enlarged edge of said actuator being formed along an upper edge thereof, said actuator further including a body portion depending downwardly of said upper edge pivotal toward and away from said opening in said housing.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said actuator includes an elongated rail portion extending outwardly of said body portion toward said opening of said housing, said rail portion having an outer face for sliding contact with said contact member as said door is opened and closed. 